Part of being a triathlete is being a cyclist, and part of being a cyclist is making fun of triathletes. This strange relationship is one that I have gotten to carefully observe over the years. Many of my friends are strictly cyclists, and many are strictly triathletes. The only thing they have in common is that they ride bikes.

Triathletes try to be the master of three sports, and I get it, that is annoying. We are like that girl you went to high school with who was the president of the student government, captain of the basketball team, and voted homecoming queen.

Here is a list of 10 things that triathletes do that drive cyclists crazy.

1. Riding with a sleeveless jersey

Sleeveless jerseys are acceptable under two circumstances: You are in a race and just got done swimming, or if… actually there are no other acceptable times.

2. Talking about the other workouts they that day

If you are on a bike ride with a cyclist and mention how you had a hard swim that morning, that person has the right to smack you.

3. Riding their triathlon bike on a group ride

Triathlon bikes are built so that you can ride alone more efficiently. Show up to a group bike ride with your aero bars and you might actually get into a fight. Triathletes are notorious poor bike handlers and cyclists see you as a risk. See video.

4. Not wearing socks

In a triathlon it saves time to not put on socks after swimming, but it won’t matter when you cant race due to the debilitating blisters and athletes foot from riding without socks all the time. None of those “no show” or crew socks either.

5. Brick workouts

Running after biking is an important part of training, but knowing that after your 4 hour bike ride you are going for a 10 mile run makes even the hardest working cyclist feel lazy.

6. Riding dirty, poorly maintained bike

Bikes are expensive, and most cyclists are willing to shell out serious cash to have their machines weighing less, running smoothly, and looking great. Riding around on a dirty, squeaky bike with ripped bar tape and half removed race numbers is truly hard for these cyclists to see.

7. Posting swims on Strava

Strava may offer options to upload your swim workouts, but it is pretty silly when you think about it. All you are saying to your cyclist followers is “look how much I work out”. Don’t go taking their KOM’s either or they will really freak.

These socks are great for recovery, but going to dinner or riding your bike in them is frowned upon by pretty much everyone.

10. Ironman tattoos

Completing an Ironman is an amazing accomplishment, but if you are only doing it so you can brag to everyone then you better expect that cyclists are going to resent you. You just paid $600 for a race and then another $100 to have a brands logo on you forever.

I don’t know what’s more funny, the Top 10 List or the comments! Here’s my list of Top 10 Things That Cyclist do to Piss Off Triathletes:

1) Think that our bikes our second class to your road bikes
2) Make fun of my clip on aero bars on my mt bike…they make me fast!!!!!
3) Stare at my huge shoulders and lats when I am wearing a sleeveless jersey, its like I’m being undressed, just creppy.
4) Comment on the fact that I am not wearing socks…seriously? Who cares? Did I steal your socks? My feet are one step above harden plastic at this point, I’m not getting any blisters!
5) Only workout once a day, I mean that’s just plain lazy!
6) Spend so much time cleaning their bikes, I’ve got 2 more workouts today, ain’t nobody got time for that
7) Ok, wearing compression socks on a bike just makes you look like a dork
8) Blow me away on like every damn hill! Seriously, that pisses me off, triathlons are FLAT, the hell with those damn hills!
9) Stop for lunch! Lunch…seriously? I’m running 6 miles off the bike!
10) Ironman tatoo? OK, I see your point, but roadies are practically moving billboards. There are more brand names on those jerseys and shorts than the Vegas Strip!

Scubapro

Triathletes are taught to train as you race so sleveless jerseys/trisuits/Tri tops, compression sleeves, no socks. etc. We keep out bikes clean and many times things are new cause many triethletes will try anything on their bikes that will shave time off their race time. Unlike cyclists, triathletes need bento boxes for nutrition cause they don’t want anything in their very small pockets that will add drag. We talk about our bricks which at minimum is 2 sports and many times is all 3 sports cause we can… and any triathlete can tell you that we are only on aerobars in straightaways where breaking is a minimum, but any triathlete worth his speedo has a second bike for pure hill/mountain training and use the tribike usually on the same hills similar or at the race site. Because doing a full Ironman is life event like being at an Oly, if they want to brand themselves like those mentioned, why not… I know and met many Olyimpians who don’t medal with tats of Oly Rings that is a Brand, many of them who are cyclists! Doing a 70.3/140.6 or repping their country in sport are life events and if they ink the even, kewl!

Just train on and stop running lred lights/stop signs… you are giving triathletesa bad name cause they include you with us!!!

Jennifer

If it’s hot I’m wearing a sleeveless top. Don’t see anything wrong with that. And I find those tall socks cyclists wear totally dorky. Who wants a tan line halfway up their calf? Oh wait, the same people who want “laser lines” mid bicep 😉

Bill Browne

Unlike triathletes, true cyclists have just enough upper body and arm muscles to hold themselves upright on the bike, and that’s all that’s needed.

RE – the video – this is why most TRI’s make drafting illegal, you jus tdon’t have the ability to avoid stuff in the tuck. It’s why I always go on to the hoods or drops when passing… so people don’t and they end up picking gravel out of their faces.

Andy

I have been racing and training now for 4 years and admit to having committed a few of the things on the list but hey we are all getting out and training so what’s the point moaning about it cyclists do a lot of weird elitist things that annoy a lot of people too as for tattoos if you have completed an IM then hats off to you its your body do what you like 🙂

Hugo

The issue is mistakes on the bike put everyone around you at risk. I have seem people try and take a drink of water only to drift 5 feet to the left. DO NOT have your first ride on a TT rig be at a race!

Jeff

Look closely at the crash …guy was in his aero bars like an idiot but It was also clip on bars on a road bike.
And another ). Can also piss off road bikers or gain respect and kudos by climbing right with them ( since Road bike geometry and gearing is way easier and made for climbing)?

FiftySomething

Tri-rider rode up my back at 20+ mph, broke 3 of my ribs and launched me off the bike. I did a 360 in mid-air landing on my hip and breaking it. Two weeks later had a pulmonary embolism in both lungs and nearly died. Ten days later left the hospital and was on blood thinners for 6 months. So no, I don’t allow anyone on TT bars anywhere near me any more.

Jeff

If he rode up your back , how do you know he was in aero bars at the time . could’ve happened with any type of bike ?
But sorry to hear you had such a bad accident

Scott

Well I only own a tri bike. So what am to do.

Candice

I only have no sleeve shirts to wear biking? I wanna see the list for 10 things cyclists do that pisses off triathletes.

Ren Mac

?????

Christopher Nichols

1. Write these lists.

Ren Mac

so am i, scott.. but whenever i ride w the group.. i dont use my aero bars.. ?

yknow what i mean?

Hersheybar

Article is quite funny and most obviously written by a biker, who cannot swim or run. Its much more difficult training in three disciplines than just one. I ride and train with bikers and triathetes and do all of the 10 things mentioned which is absolutely silly.

Neil

“It’s much more difficult training in three disciplines than just one.” This is another attitude that drives us nuts. Go tell Ted King or Tim Johnson they have it easy because all they have to do is ride a bike when you’ll be out finishing middle of the pack at the local sprint tri because you’ve put so much more work in than they have. Just because you’re doing three different types of workouts doesn’t mean your training is automatically more difficult than another single sport endurance athlete.

Em

I do triathlon Hersheybar, and even I think that saying that makes you a total douche…

Chris from Santa Rosa

Important safety tip – don’t use your aerobars when riding in a group, unless you are leading a pace line or at least 3 bike lengths off the back. You need your hands on the hoods for better reactions to changes in pace or conditions.

Tri Mom

Ha!! This is great!!! Our family consists of both cyclists and triathletes….my younger son often wears a shirt that says “I ride my tri bike in groups just to annoy roadies”. Actually, he doesn’t….but it never fails to get comments from others. My husband (a cyclist for 35 years) sat the tri guys down and gave them an entire list of dos and don’ts. As far as IM tattoos….half got one…the other half chose not to!